Induction of apoptosis and caspase activation in cells obtained from familial haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis patients

Familial haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (FHL) is a rare and uniformly fatal disorder of early childhood characterized by fever, hepatosplenomegaly, cytopenia and widespread infiltration of vital organs by activated lymphocytes and macrophages. In order to test whether the massive accumulation of immune cells in these patients is associated with a perturbation of apoptosis, lymphocytes were isolated from eight patients and subjected to the chemotherapeutic agent etoposide or agonistic anti-Fas monoclonal antibodies in vitro. These stimuli elicited a normal apoptotic response in FHL patient cells when compared to healthy controls, as determined by phosphatidylserine exposure, DNA fragmentation, in vitro cleavage of the caspase-3-like substrate aspartate-glutamate-valine-aspartate-7-amino-4-methyl-coumarin (DEVD-AMC) and proteolysis of the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2. In addition, the degree of constitutive and Fas-triggered apoptosis in freshly isolated neutrophils was monitored in three children, with similar results. These studies indicate that immune cells derived from FHL patients are not inherently resistant to apoptosis induction. Specifically, etoposide-induced and Fas-triggered activation of intracellular caspases appears to remain intact in these individuals. However, the degree of spontaneous activation of caspase-3-like enzymes in activated lymphocytes was attenuated in three of the four patients tested prior to initiation of therapy, suggesting a possible biological deficiency in these individuals.     

Fatal Thrombotic Microangiopathy and Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome in a Patient with Anti-melanoma Differentiation-associated Gene 5 Antibody-positive Dermatomyositis

A 56-year-old woman presented with dermatomyositis positive for anti-melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5 antibody. No interstitial lung disease was detected. Despite treatment with methylprednisolone pulse therapy and cyclosporine, dysphagia developed. Furthermore, the presence of thrombocytopenia, elevated lactate dehydrogenase levels, and an undetectable haptoglobin level suggested the possibility of thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA). Disturbed consciousness developed shortly after TMA onset, and brain magnetic resonance imaging revealed hyperintensity lesions in the bilateral basal ganglia, thalami, and brainstem. The patient was diagnosed with atypical posterior leukoencephalopathy syndrome before dying of heart failure later that day. In conclusion, early TMA recognition and prompt intensive treatment are critical in such cases.     

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目的探讨噬血细胞综合征(HLH)-2004方案(简称HLH-2004方案)治疗儿童HLH的疗效及影响疗效的相关因素。方法回顾性分析华中科技大学同济医学院附属同济医院2005年1月至2009年12月符合国际组织细胞协会HLH-2004诊断标准的28例患儿的临床特点,根据国际组织细胞协会2004年提出的疗效标准,观察其对HLH-2004方案治疗反应及转归,并分析可能影响HLH患儿疗效的相关因素。结果 28例HLH患儿接受HLH-2004方案治疗,随访时间2周至22个月,获得完全缓解或治愈17例(60.7%);出院失访9例(32.1%),其中获临床有效或好转出院失访3例,未获缓解自动出院失访6例;死亡2例(7.2%)。结论 HLH-2004是诊断和治疗儿童HLH的有效方案,早期积极治疗原发病及采用HLH-2004免疫化疗方案,有效地控制病情,提高患儿治愈率及生存率。     

Hepato-splenic γδ T-cell lymphoma: A rare entity mimicking the hemophagocytic syndrome

Hepatosplenic γδ T-cell lymphoma is a rare histologic type of the peripheral T-cell lymphomas, clinically characterized by predominant involvement of liver and spleen, no or little adenopathy, and an often aggressive course; it affects mainly adolescents and young adults, with a male predominance. Postthymic T-cell malignancies are heterogeneous in their clinical and laboratory features. Among the γδ postthymic T-cell lymphomas, two distinct entities (cutaneous and hepatosplenic, respectively) are reported in the literature. The former shows predominant multiple involvement of the skin and subcutaneous tissue; it occurs mostly in older patients and the phenotype is CD3−, CD4−, CD8−. Because of the small number of reports, the course of the disease was unknown. The latter shows a clinical picture characterized by hepatosplenomegaly, no or little adenopathy, and sometimes systemic symptoms (fever, cytopenias likely due to hypersplenism); it presents a peculiar sinusoidal involvement of liver and spleen. The bone marrow histologic feature often reveals a little infiltration, especially sinusoidal and easily underestimated phenotype: CD2+, CD3+, CD7+, CD5−, CD4−, CD8−, CD44+. Few cases of this lymphoma associated by hemophagocytic syndrome are described (Sun, 1990; Kadin, 1981; Jaffe, 1983). We report a case of a young man with a rapid and fatal course in which the more important clinical feature was hemophagocytosis. The diagnosis of lymphoma was very difficult because of paucity of histologic involvement, and only the rearrangement of TCR γ chain gene by polymerase chain reaction on paraffin sections confirmed a clonal T-cell proliferation. Am. J. Hematol. 60:61–65, 1999. © 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Secondary hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis due to nivolumab/ipilimumab in a renal cell cancer patient—A case report

Secondary immune‐related hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis is a rare but life‐threatening complication of immune checkpoint inhibitors. HLH‐2004 and HLH‐1994 guidelines originally developed for primary HLH are the only available guidelines. It has proven to have a good prognosis if diagnosed promptly with discontinuation of immunotherapy and treated with corticosteroid monotherapy.     

Successful rescue of acute liver failure and hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis following varicella infection: A case report and review of literature

Herein we report a case of acute liver failure (ALF) and hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) induced by varicella infection, successfully rescued by a combination therapy of acyclovir, supportive care, and immunosuppression with dexamethasone and etoposide. A previously healthy 16-year-old boy presented with generalized rash, fever, severe abdominal pain, and abnormal liver function within 4 d. Chickenpox was suspected, and acyclovir and intravenous immunoglobulin were started on admission. However, the patient’s condition deteriorated overnight with soaring transaminases, severe coagulopathy and encephalopathy. On the fourth day of admission, pancytopenia emerged, accompanied by hypofibrinogenemia and hyperferritinemia. The patient was diagnosed with ALF. He also met the diagnostic criteria of HLH according to the HLH-2004 guideline. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplifications of varicella-zoster virus (VZV) were positive, confirming that VZV was a causative trigger for ALF and HLH. In view of the devastating immune activation in HLH, immunosuppression therapy with dexamethasone and etoposide was administered, in addition to high dose acyclovir. The patient’s symptoms improved dramatically and he finally made a full recovery. To our knowledge, this is only the second report of a successful rescue of ALF associated with HLH, without resorting to liver transplantation. The first case was reported in a neonate infected by herpes simplex virus-1. However, survival data in older children and adults are lacking, most of whom died or underwent liver transplantation. Our report emphasizes the clinical vigilance for the possible presence of HLH, and the necessity of extensive investigation for underlying etiologies in patients presenting with indeterminate ALF. Early initiation of specific therapy targeting the underlying etiology, and watchful immunosuppression such as dexamethasone and etoposide, together with supportive therapy, are of crucial importance in this life-threatening disorder.